BARCELONA
Why isn’t Pedri playing for Barcelona against Las Palmas in LaLiga?
The young midfielder won’t feature against his former club, with Marc-André ter Stegen and Gavi also missing the first game of 2024.
Pedri is undoubtedly one of the most gifted players in world soccer but the Barcelona midfielder has had a tough time of it lately due to ongoing injury issues, the latest of which keeps him out of La Blaugrana’s first LaLiga game of 2024 away to Las Palmas, his former club.
The playmaker moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria from another of the Canary Islands, Tenerife, at the age of 15 in 2018, and played one season as a professional in the Spanish second division before transferring to Catalonia.
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What injuries has Pedri had recently?
After playing 52 times in his debut season for Barça in 2020-21, hamstring issues restricted him to just 22 appearances in the following campaign. Last season, he appeared to be back on the right path after featuring in the opening 21 league fixtures, only to struck by thigh and hamstring problems between mid-February and the summer break, a period in which he played only five times.
2023-24 has been equally frustrating so far, with another hamstring injury picked up after the second LaLiga game of the season in August keeping him on the sidelines until the start of November. After just nine appearances, Pedri broke down once again before the Christmas break, missing the last competition match of 2023 against Almería, as well as the friendly against Club América in Dallas, because of more muscle problems. As it stands, the Canary Islanders has played in only 11 of Barcelona’s 24 matches in all competitions this term.
When will Pedri be back for Barça?
Speaking to popular Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos on Twitch earlier this week, the 21-year-old revealed he had made changes to his diet and had started doing Pilates in an effort to get past his injury problems once and for all. No date has been set for the youngster’s return, but “it will be soon,” he says.
Why isn’t Marc-André ter Stegen playing against Las Palmas?
Coach Xavi Hernández is also unable to call upon first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who underwent back surgery in early December. The club haven’t confirmed how long the German will be unavailable for, although it was initially suggested he would be set for around two months on the sidelines. Back-up Iñaki Peña, who played the last seven games of 2023, will continue to deputise.
Gavi out until next season after ACL tear
Long-term injury victim Gavi, who isn’t expected to play again until 2024-25 because of an ACL tear, and defenders Iñigo Martínez and Marcos Alonso are also unavailable due to injury.